Plan on about 12 h 31 min of driving for the 494-mile (795 km) trip from Cartago, Colombia to Rincón del Mar, before any stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali).
This route passes through or near an area the State Department rates Do Not Travel. Read the full advisory before you plan this drive: Colombia. Advisory issued: Colombia March 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Colombia: “Mountain roads may lack safety features such as crash barriers or guard rails.”
| Distance by road | 494 mi (795 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 31 min |
| Main roads, in order | 25BAN |
| Departments on the route | Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas, Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
What the drive from Cartago to Rincón del Mar is like
25BAN (20 mi) carries about 4% of the 494 miles. It runs through 6 departments: Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas, Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre. Of the 7 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Cartago and Rincón del Mar
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–64 | 64 | Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas |
| connecting roads | 64–65 | 1 | Caldas |
| local roads | 65–115 | 50 | Caldas, Antioquia |
| 25BAN | 115–135 | 20 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 135–168 | 33 | Antioquia |
| connecting roads | 168–169 | 1 | Antioquia |
| local roads | 169–494 | 325 | Antioquia, Córdoba, Sucre |
- Mile 2 of this route: Valle del Cauca → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 18 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 55 of this route: Caldas → Risaralda (department line)
- Mile 58 of this route: Risaralda → Caldas (department line)
- Mile 93 of this route: Caldas → Antioquia (department line)
- Mile 338 of this route: Antioquia → Córdoba (department line)
- Mile 434 of this route: Córdoba → Sucre (department line)
Stops between Cartago and Rincón del Mar
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 156), Medellín Metropolitan Theatre (mile 157), Botanical Garden of Medellín (mile 160), Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (mile 205), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 234)
- Nature and outdoors: Botanical Garden of Medellín (mile 160), Salto Chorrolato (mile 163)
- Museums and history: Medellín Museum of Modern Art (mile 156), Botanical Garden of Medellín (mile 160), Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (mile 205), Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy (mile 234), St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo (mile 448)
Medellín Museum of Modern Art
Medellín's Museum of Modern Art, founded in 1978, is a modern art museum in the Colombian city of Medellín.
Medellín Metropolitan Theatre
Medellín's largest theater, the José Gutiérrez Gómez Metropolitan Theatre is the city's main stage for performances.
Botanical Garden of Medellín
Formally the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden, this 35-acre garden in Medellín has recorded 139 bird species among its plantings.
Salto Chorrolato
In the San Félix area of Bello, in the Aburrá Valley near Medellín, Salto Chorrolato (Chorro del Hato) is a multi-step waterfall and a symbol of the municipality.
Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral
Facing the south side of Bolívar Park in Santa Rosa de Osos, Colombia, this cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá.
Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy
A minor basilica in Yarumal, the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy belongs to the Diocese of Santa Rosa de Osos and serves as the parish church.
St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, Sincelejo
Sincelejo Cathedral, dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, is a cathedral church of the Catholic Church in Sincelejo, Colombia.
More drives to Rincón del Mar
- Cúcuta to Rincón del Mar
- Manizales to Rincón del Mar
- Quibdó to Rincón del Mar
- Tunja to Rincón del Mar
- Pereira to Rincón del Mar
- Sogamoso to Rincón del Mar
From Cartago to other places in Colombia
- Cartago, Colombia to Guatapé
- Cartago, Colombia to Girardot City
- Cartago, Colombia to Zipaquirá
- Cartago, Colombia to Sogamoso
- Cartago, Colombia to Santa Cruz de Mompós
- Cartago, Colombia to Magangué
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cartago, Colombia to Rincón del Mar?
About 12 h 31 min of driving without stops, over 494 miles.
How far is Rincón del Mar from Cartago, Colombia by car?
About 494 miles (795 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Cartago to Rincón del Mar drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel. Parts of this route are in or near areas rated Level 4: Do Not Travel (Colombia: Valle del Cauca (excluding Cali)). Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Cartago to Rincón del Mar?
Closest to the road: Medellín Museum of Modern Art (art museum, mile 156, 0.1 mi from the route); Medellín Metropolitan Theatre (theater, mile 157, 0.1 mi from the route); Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá Cathedral (cathedral, mile 205, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.